The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-05-28

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brow was clouded, and as cloudy sky A..
fects landscape, 30 the captains clouded
brow affected his family. The poor, waver-
ing smile left his wife's face; the boys were
still; even Susie's chattering tongue was
silent. But not long, for glancing at the
faces Of first one and then another, she sud.
denly exclaimed:
10 mother look what papa bought me.
And she held up for all to see a string Of
blue beads.
"Susic," said hcr father II thought yoii
weren't to show 'cm till tomorrow"
She laughed glecfully rs she answered.:
"Now theys all glad. And Ruthie, you
you can wear 'em tomorrow"
Ruth smiled, and taking the beads put
them about Susie's neck, kissing her fondly
as she did So
Dear little Susie, how they all loved her,
more now II possible than ever, since her
recovery from the terrible attack Of fever
she had suffered during the past winter.
But, strange to say, the first serious trouble
in the captains family dated from this sick.
ness OF Susie.
1t CHANGED when she became i'll, the fami-
ly doctor himself was confined to his bed
with rheumatism, and they were compelled
to employ young man who had been prac-
ticing medicine few years in Clifton and
its vicinity. He proved skillful, and by his
kindly attention won the affection of his lit
tie patient, and the esteem Of her mother;
and would, it is likely, have won the cap.
tain's friendshipas well, IL that worthy man
had not noticed that his eldest daughter
seemed very attractive to the young ply
sician, and that the girl looked rather too
favorably upon him.
The captain did not approve Of this. He
IN, hi Io,, f,,t,
and he generally carried out his plans
whether the object in his way were living
or inanimate object. In fact, rumor had
1t, that on that memorable fiat boat trip the
captain had used violence in removing one
human obstacle from his path. For the
truth OF this we can not vouch, but we do
endorse the opinion of his loud-voiced
friend in Clifton: THAT to get along with
the captain, you needed to keep ON the right
side Of him."
You may be sure his family were aware
OF this popularity, and perhaps that was
why that smile on his wife's lips was so un-
decided. However, 30 far all had been
peaceful in the family. The wife was quiet
and yielding in her disposition; the children
too young for fragrant disobcdience; but
Ruth, now eighteen, was beginning to form
opinions OF her own, and express them also.
DR.. Hargrove for his professional services,
received the friendly visits the young man
made with such marked coolness as to
make the guest she in order
to show her disapproval, was kinder than
ever.
To say tho captain was angry and sur
prised, would not half describe his state Of
mind; indeed, do not believe words could
do the subject justice, 80 will not attempt
it. But in u brief conversation with Ruth
he told her, enforcing his threat with an
oath, that il she thought to throw Bob In
gram, with his hundred an sixty acres Of
good land and fine lot Of stock, over for
that one-hoss doctor. she was mistaken, that
was all. He-the captain-would soon stop
that sort o. nonsense.
Ruth made no answer to this declaration;
but her eyes met his steadily, her lips shut
firmly, and her shapely head seemed more
erect than ever. Muttering something
between his closed lips her astonished
father walked out OF the room.
This scene had occurred about month
previous to the opening of our story, and in
all this time Ruth and the doctor had met
but once, and then by accident, at least on
her part. at church. This was why Ruth
had spoken as she did about the shoes. She
believed they had been forgotten" pur-
posely. She was mistaken; the captain re-
sorted to no subterfuges; and when Ruth
treated Bob, who had spent every Sunday
evening ut the house for few weeks,
rather coolly he plainly showed by his own
cordiality, at least the young man was
welcome visitor.
But Bob Ingram was no fool, and besides
we'll aware of his own Importance, and al
though Ruth's Indifference pqued him, as
she was, he knew, the pretticst girl in the
neighborhood, he did not intend to run
after one who plainly showed dislike to his
attentions, when other pretty girls were
ready and willing to smile on him. And
this is what he was telling Dr. Hargrove as
The result Of this conversation between tho
young men will be explained as our story
proceeds.
Meanwhile supper at the captains was
over, the evening labor done, and Ruth,
candle in hand, was about to go upstairs,
when her her father said
''Ruth, heard in town that Mary Ann
Goodnough had run of with Hiram Stod-
dard."
''Run offw exclaimed Ruth, turning to
look at her father; 'why, what for!
''To marry him, goose" was the reply.
Ruth laughed.
"Sure enough" she said, sWhat goose
am. Iwonder what the Squire'll do about
itW
~ don't know what he'd do" answered
the captain, "but know what I'd do in such
a case"
swell, what would you dol" questioned
his daughter.
'Shoot the fellow like dog" said the
captain, savagely; ''and as for the girl -"
"You'd shoot her, too, you cruel old dad!"
interrupted Ruth. ''That's fair warnin'.
The fellows had better keep away from
here, hadn't they, dada" And she ran up-
stairs laughing merrily.
The next morning being Sunday, the
wagon was brought to the front gate, and
Mrs. Stearns and the younger children,
with Tom, the eldest boy, as driver, set out
to. meeting. Mrs. Stearns was member of
the Methodist church, and the captain, who
professed contempt TOR religion himself,
was always ready to assist his wife in
church matters, and insisted on the children
''going to meetin' with mother" He was
very liberal in giving to her church, too, and
very kind and patronizing to preachers,
cordially inviting them to his house and
them Hospitality, taking great
credit to himself in so doing, and inwardly |
to be rewarded for them in the |
next world, ifnot in this. He prided him.
self greatly on his wife's goodness, seeming
10 think as he sometimes declared, that his |
vife's piety would get him safe to Heaven.
Ruth and her father watched the wagon |
irive OF with its precious load, and then |
while the captain strolled into the orchard |
Ruth went into the house, and they did not